Gamban announced on November 6 that it will make its gambling blocking software free again in England. The move follows a provisional £2.71 million funding allocation from the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities, reversing a switch to paid access earlier this year.
Public Funding Will Replace the Subscription Cost
People in England previously had free access through TalkBanStop, a program funded by the charity GambleAware. After the program ended on March 31, Gamban listed prices of £4.99 a month or £29.99 a year for users in England and Scotland.
The new allocation covers the 2026–27 and 2027–28 financial years and is subject to a final grant agreement. The money comes from the prevention portion of the statutory gambling levy, which requires gambling operators to contribute toward work on gambling harms.
The announcement applies to England. Wales already has free access under a separate arrangement, and Scotland was not included in the latest announcement. Gamban did not specify when the free option would become available or how the change would affect existing paid subscriptions.
Gamban Blocks Devices While Gamstop Works Through Operators
Gamban restricts access to gambling websites and apps on the devices where it is installed. Someone who uses both a phone and a laptop can cover both under one license, but the software needs to be installed on each device.
Gamstop Online works at the account level. Online gambling operators licensed in Great Britain must check whether a customer has registered to exclude themselves. The two tools can be used together. One restricts access on the device, while the other requires participating operators to turn away a registered customer.
